50 books to read before you die discussion
50 Books to Read BYD General
>
Any other books you should read before you die?
I would add two of my favorite books. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, and Beowulf (author unknown). These books seem very random together, but they are the two books I can go back to over and over again. Both very exciting and impacting. And relevant!
A Tale of Two Cities, by Monsieur Dickens. A tight, almost plausible implausible storyline rendered in minute, timeless observations of human nature; vivid, terrifying sanguine tapestries of blood-lustrous crowd manias and odious vanities; cut with comforting, humourous humanities. This book was my closest comrade for all too short a time; the best of times, and at times, the worst of times. Read this or get thee to Madame Guillotine!
the shadow of the wind by carlos ruiz zafón (:
spoiler :I liked the book very much. But I did hate Nuria's letter Daniel find and reveals the backstory. think It's too easy job for the author.
I wouldn't add books but I think there are a few authors out there that everyone should pick up once and try. Louis L'Amour stands out in this category. Most of his work is generic westerns (some very recognizable ones), but he was an author that took his work seriously and it shows in his work. The details are correct from story line to geographically.
Louis L'Amour's westerns are good, I've read about 8 and really enjoyed them.
I've only read one Louis L'Amour book. I had visions of an early John Wayne movie.
Buck, I think it was Hondo. I think he also wrote some of the 'Hop a Long Cassidy' TV series episodes.
I can't remember the title, can't remember the story, and oddly enough I don't have it on my goodreads shelf, though I read it within the last year or two, I think.I was a fan of Hoppy's when I was little.
IMHO the best of Louis L'Amour is the Sacketts series of books. Top notch for the western genre.
The Sacketts is an awesome series. The Hippy books were published by his son after he passed. originally they were written under a pen name and he hated them, thought they made him a sellout. My point being he was an exceptional writer even if you're not a western fan its worth it once to give it a try.
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux!
The hours! Defiantly!This is the best book ever.... I can't believe its not in the list!
I would add almost anything by Kurt Vonnegut to the list and maybe The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.The Alchemist
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Lorien Legacies series. Oh My God. Just. . Read it.
Great expectations by Charles Dickens. Enough said. This book is great if you haven't read anything else by him. And oh, what about paradise lost by John Milton? One of the best poetic works ever written, and a classic.
There are great many,indeed!Like Dickens' Great Expectations or Hard Times,Dostoyevsky's Crime and punishment,Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist and many more.These are some "Read before you die" type book.
I didn't think a strong reason for the book "Money" by Amis in your list.
However,I've got to read many classics and this list surely going to help me ! :)
It's a damn shame that there is not a single Haruki Murakami book on the 50 or the 100 list. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle should be on one or both.
Darren wrote: "It's a damn shame that there is not a single Haruki Murakami book on the 50 or the 100 list. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle should be on one or both."It is a fantastic book! You could nominate it for a group read next month.
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. She did win the Noble Prize for Literature, yet she never shows up on "must-read" lists. I'd also add As I Lay Dying by Faulkner, Madame Bovary by Flaubert, and Cousin Bette by Balzac.
What about Edgar Allan Poe?I also recommend Tuesdays with Morrie (can be a bit of a tear jerker, but definitely a good read). I had to read it for my senior project and loved it.
Christina wrote: " I also recommend Tuesdays with Morrie (can be a bit of a tear jerker, but definitely a good read). I had to read it for my senior project and loved it."I am about to start The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom, the author of Tuesdays with Morrie.
I am reading the Dear America series !! It has made me laugh and cry.
NEW BOOK IN The NEW PERCY JACKSON SERIES : THE HIDDEN ORACLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just got it on the 4th :)
mention has already been made of Angela Carter, (notably I would recommend the Infernal Desire Machine of Doctor Hoffman), so there are a couple of writers I think people may find rewarding: firstly the Australian Peter Carey (in particular 'The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith' and secondly a Canadian, Mordecai Richler, whose 'Solomon Gursky was Here' is a kind of masterpeiece of leg pulling historically convincing absurdity.I guess they are all part of a generation that would include Salman Rushdie.
A general remark is that authors' best work isn't always their best known....
Megan wrote: "I am reading the Dear America series !! It has made me laugh and cry."I love those series too!
Donna wrote: "The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. She did win the Noble Prize for Literature, yet she never shows up on "must-read" lists. I'd also add As I Lay Dying by Faulkner, Madame Bovary by Flaubert, and Cou..."good to see you mention Balzac and Flaubert, this list is a bit light on international literature.
Liana.Renee wrote: "Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. one of my personal favorites" I'm glad someone likes it! I taught high school American literature for twenty years. The Scarlet Letter was not in the curriculum; however, I made my students read it. Well, most of them listened to an audio-book I played in class. We did several projects, which included some creative writing. Happily, most of my students gained a respect for and an admiration for this very American novel. In my introduction to the novel, I made it sound like a very steamy soap opera--that caught their attention. Then, I just let Hawthorne work his magic. One year, we all wore "Scarlet Letters" that indicated our own hidden sins. Very interesting! Good Reading!
John wrote: "Donna wrote: "The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. She did win the Noble Prize for Literature, yet she never shows up on "must-read" lists. I'd also add As I Lay Dying by Faulkner, Madame Bovary by Fla..." I agree. What would you add?
A thousand splendid suns The kite runner
Both by Khaled Hossaini
Hamza wrote: "A thousand splendid suns The kite runner
Both by Khaled Hossaini" I've read both of those. A former student (from Pakistan) and a friend strongly recommended them. A culture I knew nothing about was opened up to me, and Hossaini's writing truly transported me. Excellent suggestion!
Hey all! I hope you're doing wonderfully well. Can you recommend a mystery novel for my detective fiction class? I have to write a paper on a mystery novel. Also, if you could please suggest to me some ideas to write about based on that novel. Thank you so much.
My favorite mystery of all-time is And Then There Were None. It's an older novel, but it is the best-selling mystery novel of all time. I read it as a teenager, and I had to finish it in one sitting--it was that enthralling.As for ideas to write about? I'm a former teacher, and you should come up with your own ideas. I think you'll see plenty of things to write about. Look for thematic ideas--not just plot summary. Good luck!
Lama wrote: "Hey all! I hope you're doing wonderfully well. Can you recommend a mystery novel for my detective fiction class? I have to write a paper on a mystery novel. Also, if you could please suggest to me ..."I'm not a great mystery aficionado but I've been reading Sherlock Holmes lately. Try any of the Sherlock Holmes novels by Arthur Conan Doyle - they're more than 100 years old but very readable and enjoyable, not terribly long, and as good a mystery as any. The very first one is A Study in Scarlet
I like to read book The Scarlet Letter!
Drizzling wrote: "Do you think any other book deserves a spot on this list?"I didn't see Siddartha by Herman Hesse. It was a great read.
Kenneth wrote: "I just read Dracula for the first time this past October. Very good. Interesting style. I'm not sure if I'd put it in a top 50, but I would rate it over a few of the ones already on this list." I agree, Dracula, the book was awesome.
"Gossip from the Forest" by Thomas Keneally. This is the story of how the German high command has to try to make terms with the Allies at the end of WWI. It is a truly thought provoking read and has stayed with me all of my life.
I had never considered what happened after the war. I thought the allies won, and everything then went back to the way it had been before. That was of course, a very naïve view.
The victors were determined to exact their pound of flesh and it is almost heartbreaking to see the German contingent trying to negotiate without any power.
Should be in any top 50 to read.
I think I'd like this. Teaching history, my classes discussed the Treaty of Versailles and how it set-up the path to Hitler and the Nazi Party controlling Germany. It is also a good contrast to what happened after WWII when the Marshall Plan was in place. Thank you for the recommendation.
I purchased the Glass Sword (Red Queen) It is an absolutely amazing book. Love the wording the authors uses. Here is a direct link I found. http://amzn.to/1YXz6Wl I hope you enjoy :)
I read How To Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Crystalina Evert. For those who do not practice religion, or are particularly against the Catholic faith, this book brings in some elements of God and Catholicism but mainly focusing on love and the meaning of love in relationships. I highly recommend it to anyone second guessing relationships, feeling cold feet, about to enter into a relationship, or just wants a good read about love.
Some of my favorites that I think should be added:The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
50 books to read before you die
Books mentioned in this topic
The Power (other topics)A Study in Scarlet (other topics)
And Then There Were None (other topics)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (other topics)
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Naomi Alderman (other topics)Mitch Albom (other topics)
Norman Maclean (other topics)
Melina Marchetta (other topics)
"dumb as a goat": still laughing, Narayanan!